Eurocopter EC 120B Colibri

Type (Muster)
Light single-turbine helicopter (Leichthubschrauber)

Country (Land)
France, Singapore, China (Frankreich, China, Singapur)

Manufacturer (Hersteller)
Eurocopter
Aeroport Marseille Provence
F-13725 Marignane Cedex
France

Phone: 0033-4/4285-9291
Fax: 0033-4/4285-9564

Programme partners are CATIC/HAMC of China (24 % share) and Singapore Technologies Aerospace (15 % share)

General data (Allgemeine Angaben)
Crew (Besatzung): 1
Passengers (Passagiere): 3 - 4, or one stretcher and one doctor

Power plant (Antrieb): 1 x Turboméca Arrius 2F
Power at take-off (Startleistung): 1 x 376 kW (504 shp)
Maximum continous power (Dauerleistung): 1 x 335 kW (449 shp)
Fuel consumption at recommended cruise of 204 km/h (Verbrauch bei Reisegeschwindigkeit): 0,44 kg/km

Dimensions (Abmessungen)
Overall length, rotors turning (Länge über drehende Rotoren): 11,52 m
Fuselage length (Rumpflänge): 9,60 m
Height (Höhe): 3,40 m
Width over landing gear (Breite): 2,07 m
Rotor diameter (Rotordurchmesser): 10,00 m
Main rotor disc (Rotorkreisfläche): 81,7 sq m

Cabin length (Kabinenlänge): 2,30 m
Cabin width (Kabinenbreite): 1,35 m
Cabin height (Kabinenhöhe): 1,25 m

Weights (Massen)
Empty weight, standard (Leermasse): 960 kg
Useful load (Zuladung): 755 kg
Max. payload, external (max. Nutzlast, außen aufgehängt): 700 kg
Max. fuel (max. Kraftstoff): 325 kg (411 litres) plus 63 kg (80 litres) in optional ferry tank (Zusatztank)
Max. take-off weight (Max. Startmasse): 1715 kg
Max. take-off weight with external load (mit Außenlasten) 1800 kg

Performance (Flugleistungen)
Never-exceed speed (Höchstgeschwindigkeit): 279 km/h (150 kts)
Fast cruise speed (Hohe Reisegeschwindigkeit): 228 km/h (123 kts) at 1680 kg take-off weight
Economical cruise speed (wirtschaftliche Reisegeschw.) 191 km/h (103 kts)
Max. climb rate (max. Steigrate) 6,73 m/s (1325 ft/min)
Service ceiling (Dienstgipfelhöhe): 5365 m at max. take-off weight, over (über) 6000 m (19750 ft) at 1350 kg take-off weight
Hover ceiling (Schwebeflughöhe)
    - out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt, ISA) 2530 m
    - out of ground effect (ohne Bodeneffekt, ISA + 20 C) 760 m at max. take-off weight, 3350 m at 1350 kg take-off weight
    - in ground effect (mit Bodeneffekt) 3050 m at 1680 kg take-off weight at ISA conditions or 1372 m (4500 ft) at ISA + 20 deg C
Range, full tanks (Reichweite mit vollen Tanks): 732 km
Endurance (Flugdauer): 4 h 18 min at 65 kts

Costs (Kosten)
The price of the EC 120B was about 879000 US-Dollars in 2000, up from 840000 US-Dollars in July 1999, 795000 US-Dollars at the beginning of 1998 and 770000 US-Dollars mentioned at the beginning of 1997.
Direct operating costs per hour wer put at 211,3 US-Dollars in January 2000, including 40,1 Dollars for fuel.

Customers (Kunden)
By March 2001, there were 256 orders from 94 customers in 32 countries, up from around 170 orders in April 2000. Order intake was 61 in 2000, compared with 36 in 1999, 45 in 1998 and 68 in 1997. Among known customers are:

Aerosud (Italy)
Euroheli (France)
Kallax Flyg AB (Sweden): Took the 200th helicopter on 29. March 2001.
Liberty Helicopters (USA): Will use the Colibry for sightseeing over Manhattan
Meravo (Germany)
SP Helicopter Service (Germany)
Spanish Military: Signed a contract for 15 Colibris worth 15 million Euros late in 1999, for use as "ab initio" trainers in Granada. Deliveries are pleanned from July 2000 to June 2001.
Temsco (USA)
Heiner Tamsen (Germany): Took delivery of the 100th Colibri on April 19,2000
Unifly (Denmark): First announced customer

Eurocopter delivered 17 Colibris in 1998, 52 in 1999 and 91 in 2000.

Competitors (Konkurrenz)
Bell 206B-3 JetRanger III
MD Helicopters MD 500E
MD Helicopters MD 520N

Remarks (Bemerkungen)
Eurocopter has developed the EC 120 as its new entry level single-engine model. The main aim is to provide a cheap and reliable product to appeal to small operators. Work on the Colibri is shared with two Asian partners, with the distribution being as follows:

Eurocopter leads engineering and is responsible for overall design, ground tests, flight testing, production of the drive trains, avionics suite, electrical systems, overall integration, final assembly and certification.
CATIC/Harbin Aircraft Manufacturing Company (HAMC) desings and manufactures the fully equipped fuselages, complete with fuel system and the composite canopy. This is a 24 per cent programme share
Singapore Technologies Aerospace is in charge of access doors, the tail-boom and the composite structure for the Fenestron tail-rotor as well as the windshields. This is a 15 per cent programme share.

History (Geschichte)
A market study in 1992 set the basic configuration for the Colibri. In that year, talks on the Asian contribution started as well. A development contract among the partners was signed on 20 October 1992, so that the full development phase could begin in January 1993. A joint design team was set up at Marignane, staffed by ten or so Singaporean, some twenty Chinese and approximately 30 French enigneers.
Flight testing of the EC 120 began at Marignane on June 9, 1995 Etienne Herrenschidt and Bernard Certain were in the cockpit. A second prototype followed on July 17, 1996, with Guy Dabadie and Bernard Certain in the cockpit. By that time, total flight time was 135 hours.
Marketing officially began at Heli-Expo in February 1997. At the Show in Anaheim, nearly 20 Colibris were sold. The first customer announced was Unifly of Denmark.
The Turboméca Arrius 2F engine completed its certification by the French DGAC authority on 22. January 1997. The DGAC then issued a VFR type certificate for the EC 120 on June 17, 1997, some three months late. This is to the JAR 27 standards, including crashworthy fuel system and seats. The US FAA followed with its VFR approval on January 22, 1998.
Deliveries started on 2. February 1998 with handover of a machine to Japanese company Nozaki Aerospace Division.
In November 1998, the first prototype of the EC 120B flew snow tests in Östersund (Sweden) to get certified in this environment.
Problems with deliveries from China prevented a rapid production increase, so that sales and handovers remained disappointing in 1999.
The keys to the 100th EC 120B Colibri were handed over to German businessman Heiner Tamsen on 19 April 2000 in Marignane.
Programme partner Harbin produced its 200th fuselage on 19 august 2000. The keys of the 200th Colibri were handed over to Sven Stenvall, president of Kallax Flyg AB in Sweden. By that time, fleet hours logged were close to 41600.

Last updated 29. March 2001

FLUG REVUE, Ubierstr. 83, 53173 Bonn, Germany